Portables: a Visual & Historical Exploration of 222 Vintage Portable Turntables

Once considered little more than a children's plaything or a grade school accessory, the portable record player has gained newfound respect in recent years. Whatever they may lack in high-end audio fidelity, battery-powered turntables more than make up for it with their convenience and ease of use. Just ask any crate digger: A cult favorite portable like a Columbia GP-3 or the Audio-Technica Sound Burger (or even a Fisher-Price Big Bird model) can be an absolutely essential companion...
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Once considered little more than a children's plaything or a grade school accessory, the portable record player has gained newfound respect in recent years. Whatever they may lack in high-end audio fidelity, battery-powered turntables more than make up for it with their convenience and ease of use. Just ask any crate digger: A cult favorite portable like a Columbia GP-3 or the Audio-Technica Sound Burger (or even a Fisher-Price Big Bird model) can be an absolutely essential companion on an all-day vinyl hunt.Vintage portables have become highly collectible items, as well. The bright colors, whimsical features and retro aesthetics of these players can be as irresistible as the magical memories of hearing your very first records on the bedroom Close N' Play or the classroom Califone.Portables features lavish, detailed photos o f222 portable turntables from around the world, including rare record players from Japan, the UK, Germany and the Soviet Union as well as the USA, and ranging in vintage from the 1920s to the early 21st century. Some of these record players are simple enough for a toddler to use, while others contain remarkably sophisticated technology. Some were clearly manufactured to quickly cash in on certain pop cultural trends, while others remain absolutely stunning pieces of mid-century modern design. They're all gorgeously captured here by photographer Eilon Paz, with accompanying commentary from music historian Dan Epstein.Whether you're a hardcore turntable collector, an aficionado of cool old audio gear, a student of industrial design, a vinyl lover curious about the wild world of portable record players, or just someone who's nostalgic for the simpler days of your analog childhood, Portables will make your head spin - and will soon have you scouring thrift stores, antique malls, and even your grandma's attic for the portable record player of your dreams.